Book and method of making same



' 1936. B. w. SMITH BOOK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed May 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BURGESS W. SMITH BYQE I t M Q a;

ATTORNEY Oct 6, 193. E. w. SMITH BOOK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed May 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @URGESS W SMITH B W H.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1936 PATENT OFFICE BOOK AND METHOD OF MAKING: SAME Burgess W. Smith, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Todd Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 8, 1935, Serial No. 20,405

21. Cla m The-present invention relates to the construction of books and more particularly, to the variety of books which for different reasons it is found desirable and advantageous to construct in such a manner as to render them capable of lying flat when opened in order that they may be used to better advantage, such for example as check and account books and others in which data ofany kind is to be written in.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved book or body portion of a book of this class embodying a simplified construction which is both durable and'flexible as well as convenient to handle and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

A further object of the invention-is to provide a book or body portion of a book formed of a. plurality of stacks of leaves with improved and efficient means for'hingedly connecting the stacks one with another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of Constructing books of the class described by which the. sta ks of leaves are hingedly connected one with another and with the cover, whereby to provide an extremely flexible, durable, and efficient book or body portion of a book, the opposite portions .of which will 'lie substantially fiat when the book is opened, whereby to better facilitate its use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of constructing or preparing a body portion of a book ready for application to a cover therefor, including the formation of a plurality of stacks of leaves and the connection of the same successively or otherwise by means of flexible hinge strips which render the joints between the stacks both strong and durable whereby the life and efficiency of the book is increased and its handling made easy.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully de.- scribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a book embodying one form of the invention with certain parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view of one of the completed books shown in open position;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are fragmentary views illustrating the method of constructing, assembling, and connecting a plurality of the stacks of leaves in accordance with the method described herein;

Fig. 6 is afragmentary perspective view of a body portion of a book constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 3 with the strip for connecting the stack with the cover omitted;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification similar to Fig. 6 with the exception that adhesive material is added to the rear faces of the hinge strips to unite them with the stacks between which they are disposed;

Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, are fragmentary sectional elevations illustrating a slightly modified method of assembling and connecting a plurality of the stacks of leaves preparatory to complet ing the body portion of the book, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified. body portion of a book constructed in accordance with the invention.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Heretofore in the construction of books or book bodies, of the class described herein, it has been thepractice to rely on the use of adhesive material in the completion of the joints between the stacks, such joints being found to be unreliable, and incapable of withstanding the stresses to which the stacks are subjected in use. This has been true even in cases where the adhesive material has retained its strength and holding power for the reason that the relatively thin sheets or leaves of the. stacks to which the strips have thus been attached have been unable to withstand the strain to which they have been subjected by the folding or hinging action of the stacks.

In other words, it has been found that the surface portions of the sheets to which the strips have been gluedoften peel off under the strains resulting from the folding action'of the stacks, thus permitting the strips to become separated from the sheets. Furthermore in other cases the sheet, at its point of connection with the strip, will'become disrupted due to the tendency of the strip o n e up t sheet a sa poin wh n opening and closingthe book.

These objections have been overcome in the present method of connecting the flexible hinge strips with the leaves of the stacks, in which the strips are connected to the leaves by securing means extending transversely through the stacks such, for example, as a line .of stitching which does not tend to bend or crease the leaves upon which the strips lie whereby they are relieved of the strains to which they would be subjected if the hinge strips were glued thereto.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, I have shown relatively movable supporting elements I and I I for receiving and supporting the stacks of leaves during the operations of applying the flexible hinge strips to the stacks to connect one with another. One of the stacks is shown at I2 which is formed of a plurality of sheets or leaves of any desired size. Disposed on one side of the stack is a relatively wide strip I3 and on the other side is positioned a relatively narrow hinge strip I 4, said strips being preferably connected with the stack by employing a suitable machine to stitch through the same, the stitching being indicated at I5. The strip I3 constitutes means for connecting the stack I2 with the cover of the book in a manner described hereinafter and may for the sake of convenience be called a cover strip. The stack I2, may be placed on the support I I with the strips I3 and I4 in the relative positions shown in Fig. 3, after which the needle I6 of a suitable sewing machine, not shown, is operated to simultaneously stitch the strips and the leaves of the intervening stack together.

It will be understood that the supporting elements i0 and II may constitute a part of the sewing or stitching machine and that suitable means may be provided for effecting a step by step lowering movement of the supporting element H to aiine the topmost stack thereon with the stack disposed on the supporting element In whereby to facilitate connection of the stacks one with another.

After completing the first stack I2, it is removed irom the support I0 and placed on the support II in reversed position with the hinge strip I4 on top and in position as shown in Fig. 4, to engage the upper side of a second stack I2a, beneath the lower edge of which is positioned a second hinge strip Ma. similar to the strip I4. The needle I6 is then operated to simultaneously stitch the hinge strips I4 and I Act to the stack of leaves I2a.

The support II may then be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 5, the stack I2a having been folded down upon the stack I2 with the strip Ida in position to engage the upper side of a third stack I21) placed on the support I 0, between which and the stack is disposed a third hinge strip Mb. The machine is then operated to stitch the opposite edges of the strips Ida and Nb to the stack I221.

The stack I 2b will then be folded down upon the stack I2a. and the support II lowered to the same extent as in the previous movement thereof. These operations, of course, can be continued in the same way until the additional stacks I 20 and lid have been added, with the corresponding hinge strips Mb and I 40, as shown in Fig. 6, or until the body portion of the book has been completed with a selected number of stacks which, of course, may be varied as desired.

In the application of the stack last to be ap plied, as, for example, the stack I2d shown in Fig. 6, a cover strip I3a'will be stitched on the outer side of said stack when connecting it with the hinge strip I40, the stitching being indicated at I and extending through the cover and hinge strips and the leaves of the stacks therebetween. Thus the body portion of the book is completed ready for insertion between and application to the opposite portions I1 and I8 of the cover of the book shown in Fig. 1.

The cover strips I3 and I3a may be connected with the covers I! and I8 by any suitable means such, for example, as adhesive material, not

shown, disposed between the outer faces of the cover strips and the inner faces of the covers.

The modification shown at I2e in Fig. 7 includes an end stack of leaves corresponding to the stack I2 shown in Fig. 3, to which a hinge strip Md is secured by the stitching I5, but from which the cover section has been omitted. It will be understood that a body portion of the book with end stacks connected as shown in Fig. '7 may be formed similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. 6, with the exception that the cover strips I3 and I3a will be omitted, in which case the modified book body may be secured between the covers of the book by the use of other suitable means, not shown.

The modification shown in Fig. 8 is the same as that shown in Fig. 6 except that adhesive material, indicated by the stippling I9, is applied to the outer face portions of the hinge strips I4 to I40, disposed rearwardly of the rows of stitching connecting the strips with said stacks. The adhesive material may be applied to the strips either before or after connecting them with the stacks. If applied before connecting the strips with the stacks the gummed portions can be moistened after the body portion of the book is completed, at which time the stacks will be pressed together as shown in Fig. 6 to cause the gummed portions of the strips to adhere thereto. In the application of the adhesive material to the strips after they have been stitched to the stacks of leaves, it is preferred to separate the stacks, as shown in Fig. 8, and to support them in spaced relation by suitable means, not shown. With the stacks in this relation, a brush or other suitable means can be used to apply the adhesive material to said surfaces after which the stacks are moved together as shown in Fig. 6 and pressure may then be applied to the opposite sides of the body portion of the book until the portions of the strips provided with adhesive material become united with the face portions of the stacks between which they lie. The connection of the strips in this manner with the opposing edge portions of the stacks between which the strips lie does not prevent the stacks from assuming a substantially flat or horizontal position when the book is opened for use. On the other hand, the connection of the strips with the stacks by the use of adhesive material in the manner described, serves to relieve to a certain extent the strain to which the stitching might otherwise be subjected, since the play between the hinge portions of the strip when opening and closing the book is definitely limited in its hinging action to a line midway between the rows of stitching which connect the strip with the stacks at the opposite sides thereof. In other words, without the results afiorded by the use of the adhesive material a considerable portion of the flexible strip lying between the rows of stitching would be free to shift in one direction or another when opening or closing the book, with the result that the stacks might get out of alinement and spoil the appearance of the book, as well as subject the stitching to excessive strains. This, however, is avoided by uniting the outer portions of the strip nearest the rows of stitching with the stacks, thus preventing relative movement between said portions and the stacks whereby to prevent the strip from pulling on the threads when hinging the stacks one upon another.

The method of connecting the hinge and cover strips with the stacks as illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, is substantially the same as that described "above, except that the stacks at the right side of the needle I60. are not lowered to successively aline them with the single stack positioned at the left side of the needle, as provided for in Figs. 4 and 5. On the contrary, each stack at the left of the needle, after being connected with its corresponding stack, is folded under the latter so that the connected stacks continue to pile up at the right side of the needle on the bed 2| of the machine during the process of connecting the same.

It will be noted that the stack 22 has positioned at the opposite sides thereof a flexible hinge strip 23 and a flexible cover strip 24, as shown in Fig. 9, the needle [6a. of the sewing machine being operated to stitch said strips upon the stack, the stitching being indicated at 15c. After this operation the stack 22 is reversed and placed on the table or bed of the machine as shown in Fig. 10, with the free edge of the hinge strip 23 positioned beneath the needle. Another stack 22a. is then placed in the position .shown in Fig. 11 with a hinge strip 230. thereon, after which the needle is operated to connect the strips 23 and 230. with the stack 22a by stitching through the same. The stack 22a. is then folded under the stack 22, the free edge of the hinge strip 23a being placed beneath the needle. A third stack 22b is then placed in position, as shown in Fig. 12, with a hinge strip 231) on the upper face thereof, said strips then being stitched to the stack 221) through operation of the needle. In the same manner the stacks 22c and 22d, together with the hinge and cover strips 230 and 24a are added to complete the body portion of the book shown in Fig. 14, which constitutes a unit ready for insertion within a cover such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

However, the cover strips 24 and 240. may each be folded back upon itself at 241) to permit the covers to more readily hinge upon the stacks to which they are attached and to be opened, if desired, without lifting or swinging said stacks to the position indicated, for example, at the left of Fig. 2. It will be understood that the covers to be attached to the book body shown in Fig. 14

may be connected therewith by any suitable means such, for example, as adhesive material.

It will be noted that with the method described herein, the body portion of the book is built up by successively connecting the stacks of leaves one with another, through the successive application of the opposite edge portions of the flexible strips to the stacks. 'However the invention is not limited to this particular manner of assembling and connecting the stacks, but also contemplates other ways of constructing a book or body portion of a book of a plurality of stacks of leaves, connected by flexible hinge strips in the manner shown and described.

Although it is preferred to secure the hinge and cover strips to the stacks by stitching, as shown, it will be understood that any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose if desired.

It will also be understood that the hinge and cover strips can be formed of any suitable material sufliciently strong and flexible to serve the purpose intended, such, for example, as cloth, paper, or the like.

Furthermore, it will be apparent that in a book or body portion of a book constructed as shown and described, that the stacks will lie substantially flat when the book is in open position which, as previously stated, is particularly advantageous in all types of books, particularly in which data of any kind is to be written in such, for example, as check or account books, and the like.

The present method is adapted for connecting or securing together groups of single sheets as well .as double or folded sheets, but it is particularly adapted for binding stacks formed of single sheets. The present method can be employed in the re-binding of books as well as in the construction of new books.

It will be understood that any preferred form of stitch may be employed for connecting the hinge and cover strips with the stacks such, for example, as a loose straight stitch whereby to render the book more flexible and easier tohandle, as well as to increase the life of the same by decreasing the strains on the hinge joints.

As previously stated the book bodies are formed independently of the covers and may be inserted therein and connected therewith, either at the time of completion of the bodies or at other times, as desired.

It will also be understood that the term book or books employed herein is intended to include what is generally known as the body portion of a book such as that shown, for example, in Figs. 6 and 14, as well as the combined body and cover shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I claim:

1. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, securing a flexible strip to one side of one stack, positioning a portion of said strip upon one side of another stack of leaves, positioning asecond strip on the opposite side of the last mentioned stack, and securing said strips to the last mentioned stack.

2. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, connecting said stacks one with another by positioning opposite edge portions of flexible hinge strips thereon, and securing the opposite edge portions of the strips to the stacks upon which they are disposed.

3. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, connecting said stacks one with another by positioning flexible hinge strips thereon, and simultaneously connecting the edge portions of the strips which lie on opposite sides of certain of the stacks one with another.

4. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, connecting said stacks one with another by successively positioning flexible hinge strips thereon with their opposite edge portions in engagement with the opposing faces of the stacks, and stitching opposite edge portions of the strips to the stacks of leaves on which they are disposed.

5. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, connect ing said stacks one with another by successively positioning opposite edge portions of hinge strips thereon, and simultaneously connecting the edge portions of the strips which engage opposite sides of different stacks to said stacks whereby to connect the stacks one with another.

6. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, securing an edge portion of a hinge strip upon one of the stacks, simultaneously securing the opposite edge portion of said strip and an edge portion of another hinge strip to a-second stack of leaves, and

securing an edge portion of the last mentioned strip to a third stack of leaves.

7. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, securing a cover strip and a hinge strip on opposite sides of one stack of leaves, securing said hinge strip and a second hinge strip on the opposite sides of another stack of leaves, and securing the second hinge strip and another cover strip on opposite sides of a third stack of leaves.

8. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, positioning a cover strip and a hinge strip on opposite sides of one stack of leaves, simultaneously connecting said cover and binge strips to said last mentioned stack, positioning a portion of said hinge strip and a portion of a second hinge strip on opposite sides of another stack of leaves, simultaneously connecting said strip portions with said last mentioned stack, positioning a portion of the second hinge strip and a portion of a second cover strip upon opposite sides of a third stack of leaves, and simultaneously connecting said last mentioned hinge and cover strip portions upon said third stack of.leaves.

9. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, securing a flexible hinge strip upon one side of one stack with a free edge portion projecting rearwardly of said stack, positioning a portion of said strip upon one side of a second stack of leaves, positioning a second hinge strip upon the opposite side of the last mentioned stack of leaves, connecting said strips with said second stack, folding said stacks one upon another, positioning a portion of the second hinge strip upon one side of a third stack, positioning another strip on the opposite side of said third stack, and connecting the second and third strips with said last mentioned stack.

10. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, positioning a flexible cover strip and a hinge strip on opposite sides of one of said stacks with a free edge portion projecting from said stack, securing said strips upon said stack, positioning a portion of said hinge strip upon one side of another stack of leaves, and connecting said portion with the last mentioned stack.

11. The method of binding books, comprising 1 1 forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, stitching a flexible hinge strip upon one side of one of said stacks with a free edge portion projecting from said stack, positioning the free edge portion of said strip and one edge of another hinge strip upon opposite sides of a second stack of leaves, stitching through said edge portions and the section of leaves therebetween to connect said portions with said stack, positioning a free edge portion of the second mentioned strip upon a third stack of leaves, and stitching said portion to said stack to hingedly connect said stack with the second mentioned stack.

12. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, positioning a flexible cover strip and an edge portion of a hinge strip on opposite sides of one of said stacks with a free edge portion projecting from said stack, stitching through said strips and said stack to connect one with another, positioning the free edge portion of said hinge strip and one edge portion of a second hinge strip on opposite sides of another stack of leaves, stitching through said last mentioned edge portions and the stack of leaves therebetween to hingedly connect said second stack with the first mentioned stack, positioning theifree edge portion of the second mentioned hinge strip and an edge portion of a flexible cover strip on the opposite sides of athird stack of leaves, and stitching said last mentioned hinge strip and cover strip portions to said third stack of leaves to hingedly connect it with said second stack.

13. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, securing a flexible hinge strip upon one side of one stack with a free edge portion projecting from said stack, placing another stack opposite the first mentioned stack on supporting means therefor, simultaneously attaching the free edge portion of said hinge strip and an edge portion of a second hinge strip to the opposite sides of said last mentioned stack while on said supporting means, folding the last mentioned stack down upon the first mentioned stack, placing a third stack on the supporting means, and securing the free edge portion of the second hinge strip upon said third stack while on said supporting means.

14. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, positioning flexible strips on opposite sides of one of said stacks with free edge portions thereof projecting from said stack, connecting said strips with said stack, placing a second stack of leaves opposite the first mentioned stack on a support with the free edge portion of one of said strips and an edge portion of a third flexible strip on opposite sides of said second stack, connecting the two last mentioned edge portions with said second stack while on said support, folding the second stack down upon the first stack, placing a third stack of leaves on the support opposite the second mentioned stack with the free edge portion of the third flexible strip and an edge portion of a fourth flexible strip on opposite sides of said third stack, and connecting the last mentioned edge portions of the third and fourth strips with the last mentioned stack of leaves while on said support.

15. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, securing an edge portion of a flexible hinge strip upon one side of one of said stacks with a free edge portion projecting from said stack, placing said last mentioned stack and a second stack of leaves on oppositely disposed supports, connecting the free edge portion of said strip and an edge portion of a second hinge strip with opposite sides of the last mentioned stack of leaves, folding the second stack of leaves down upon the first mentioned stack, shifting the support carrying said stacks, placing a third stack of leaves on the other support opposite the second stack of leaves, and connecting a free edge portion of the second mentioned strip with said third stack.

16. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, positioning opposite edge portions of flexible hinge strips upon said stacks, stitching the opposite edge portions of the strips to the stacks upon which they are disposed, applying adhesive material to the outer faces of the portions of the strips lying between the rows of stitching which connect the strips with the stacks, and closing the stacks to cause the adhesive covered portions of the strips to unite with the opposite faces of between which said portions lie.

17. In a book, a plurality of stacks of leaves, flexible strips interposed between said stacks, said strips having their opposite edge portions secured to the stacks between which the strips the stacks are disposed and each strip being folded upon itself when the book is closed, said strips forming hinge connections between the stacks.

18. In a book, a plurality of stacks of leaves, flexible strips interposed between said stacks, said strips each being folded upon itself and having their opposite edge portions secured to the stacks between which the strips are disposed to form hinge connections between the stacks and each strip being folded upon itself when the book is closed, a cover for the book, and flexible securing strips between the outer stacks of leaves and the overlying portions of the cover, said securing strips having their outer edge portions stitched to the stacks on which they are disposed and having their inwardly extending portions connected with said overlying portions of the cover.

19. In a book, a plurality of stacks of leaves, flexible strips interposed between said stacks, said strips having their opposite edge portions stitched to the stacks between which the strips are disposed to form hinge connections between the stacks, and adhesive material on the outer faces of the portions of the hinge strips disposed rearwar'dly of the rows of stitching which connect the strips with said stacks and serve to unite portions of said faces with the sheets of the stacks nearest to said strips.

20. In a book body, a plurality of stacks of leaves including end stacks, flexible hinge strips for said stacks interposed therebetween and having their opposite edge portions stitched thereto, and cover strips secured to said end stacks, each cover strip being folded upon itself to form a hinge, said cover strips being adapted for connection with a cover for the book.

21. The method of binding books, comprising forming a plurality of stacks of leaves, positioning opposite edge portions of flexible hinge strips between said stacks having adhesive material thereon intermediate the opposite edges of the strips, securing the opposite edge portions of the strips to the stacks upon which they are'disposed, moistening said adhesive material and closing the stacks to cause the adhesive material of the strips to unite with the opposite faces of the stacks between which the strips lie.

BURGESS W. SMITH. 

